Where are the WTS "codes of conduct" for each member written?

by RULES & REGULATIONS 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • RULES & REGULATIONS
    RULES & REGULATIONS

    I choose not to drink,smoke,gamble for my health and well being. But I never understood why I couldn't grow a beard,attend another church to be just an observer for a wedding or funeral,or why I couldn't work or do work at another church.

    Is there a book or manuel where it states that members of Jehovah's Witnesses can't get drunk,smoke,gamble,join the military,work or enter another church,grow a beard,have long hair,have to wear a suit to the meetings,woman can't give talks, can't become a policeman,or is everything implied?

  • OnTheWayOut
    OnTheWayOut

    The secret elders' manual lists some of those things as reasons to form a judicial committee.
    http://issuu.com/amama2six/docs/pay-attention-to-yourselves-and-all-the-flock-1991?mode=embed&documentId=081019210207-e45a471f2fde460582b359b083edc831&layout=grey

    (starts on page 92)

    You will find drunkenness and smoking in there, I am pretty sure you will find gambling in there.
    Joining another church or abandoning JW doctrine is in there.

    The book, Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, is available to the members and contains most of what
    they need to know about the rules. (Sorry, no link) The stuff is mixed into the book and some
    is not clearly spelled out, but a heap of what is expected of JW's is in the Baptismal questions in
    the appendix- 34 pages of questions with scriptures attached to make you think the practices are
    "Biblical."

    Dress and grooming are not so specifically spelled out in those books. There may be something
    in writing recently, but most of the stuff on that is "principles" that are generally accepted. You
    won't be DF'ed for a beard or ladies pantsuits or jeans, but you definitely won't be a good example.
    They receive tons of Kingdom Ministry reminders about dress and grooming every year, especially
    when the conventions are discussed. There are principles in the baptismal questions about it.

    You can attend a funeral or wedding at a church. Blondie or someone can provide the quotes.
    But they spell it out like you should weigh the decisions not very lightly. C.O.'s have told the
    elders and pioneers that more is expected of them, so while it is not in writing, they are generally
    more expected to avoid church family affairs. I learned to go and just not say anything.

    Work at a church is banned, exceptions are made for employees that don't normally work there,
    but are ordered to do some job there.

  • RULES & REGULATIONS
    RULES & REGULATIONS

    OnTheWayOut

    Thank you! That was very informative.

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    There are washtowels and asleeps written solely to govern these matters, generally in the Kool-Aid washtowels. You are supposed to obey the examples that the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger put out--and, occasionally you get a flyer about how people at Beth Hell act. Those are supposed to be the examples you go by.

    And occasionally, the hounders make up their own conduct codes.

  • fokyc
    fokyc

    An elder once told me that IF I read the Kingdom Ministry/Informant regularly,

    I would know ALL 'the rules'.

    fokyc

  • keyser soze
    keyser soze

    I always thought a lot of the rules were just whims of the elders, and whatever scripture they could distort to support it.

  • Quirky1
    Quirky1

    It's not written and it is viewed as case by case and rules change for each person, situation, etc..

  • megaflower
    megaflower

    Some body of elders like to take it a step further and put their own viewpoint on things. I have been in cong where the men are allowed to wear white shirts only and if you do not then privlidges will be taken away. Personally, I have been approached about the type of shoes I wore. They wanted me to wear heels out in field service. I basically told them they where nuts if they thought I was going to walk around farms etc(rural terr) in heels. Just to piss them off I began wearing flats ALL the time.

  • Farkel
    Farkel

    :Is there a book or manuel where it states that members of Jehovah's Witnesses can't get drunk,smoke,gamble,join the military,work or

    "There are no laws in Oceana. Laws are not necessary. Everyone knows what not to do and if they do what not to do they know they will disappear."

    Farkel

  • kurtbethel
    kurtbethel

    Just one rule.

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